Love Alone Riddim – Various Artists

A warm little gem, this 2011 Love Alone Riddim leans into the sweeter side of roots with nine voices riding the same cut, and the best of them get straight to the point. Lutan Fyah’s “Work” and Natural Black’s “If You Try Hard Enough” sit right in that earnest, uplift-heavy lane, while Turbulence and Lenn Hammond bring a smoother lovers-rock edge that keeps the whole set from settling into one mood. Christina Stars, Perfect and Rox Wayne help widen the picture, too, with songs that keep circling the same theme from different angles. It’s the kind of one-riddim package that feels modest at first glance, then leaves you with a couple of tunes still hanging around.